ADOPT FROM SOUTH AFRICA

How to Adopt from South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA ADOPTION OVERVIEW

All God’s Children International is one of three U.S. agencies accredited to provide adoption services for children in South Africa. We work directly with the South African Central Authority (Department of Social Development) to place children in loving, safe, and permanent homes. South Africa is one of the first African countries to embrace the regulations of the Hague Convention and AGCI is one of the only agencies with 2 Hague accredited programs in Africa!

Tragically, disease, unemployment, political unrest, and numerous other factors have led to a devastating orphan crisis in South Africa. Children have been abandoned or relinquished, often with medical needs that require special services. Many orphans are being cared for in foster homes or small institutions.

Christian Adoption Agency, All God’s Children International began working directly in partnership with Johannesburg Child Welfare Society (JCW) in South Africa to place South African orphans in loving adoptive families in 2018. JCW is a social service organization that has been serving South African families since 1909.

Most children available for adoption are between the ages of 2-6.

All children eligible for adoption have medical conditions, are part of a sibling group, or are considered older orphans.

Timeframe: 1-3 years. Timeframe is from registered dossier to completion. Timeframes are dependent on family’s openness to medical conditions, gender, and age of child.

“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:5

Who is Eligible to Adopt from South Africa?

Age of Parents

Both parents must be between 25 and 48 years of age.

Marital Status

Couples married at least 1 year are welcome to adopt from South Africa. If there is a history of divorce, the current marriage must be at least 2 years. Each spouse may have up to 2 divorces.

Single Applicant

Single parents are eligible to adopt from South Africa.

Children in Family

Families with children are welcome to adopt from South Africa. The youngest child in the home must be at least 3 years old at the time the dossier is submitted.

Income

Families must have a positive net worth and an income of at least $10,000 per family member, including the adopted child.

Criminal History

Applicants cannot have a history of felonies and no more than two misdemeanors in their lifetime. Misdemeanors will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Medical History

Applicants without a past or current diagnosis of a life-threatening or communicable disease or other condition that impairs their ability to parent and/or the quality of life of a child are eligible to adopt from South Africa.

How Much Does it Cost to Adopt from South Africa?

The approximate cost to adopt from South Africa is $27,655. Cost does not include airfare, lodging, and other fees associated with travel.

It’s important to keep in mind that the estimated cost of adopting from South Africa after tax credits is $13,815! To learn more about adoption tax credits, grants, and how to fund your adoption, schedule an appointment with our Financial Expert.

Additionally, there are so many ways to fund your adoption! You can learn more about AGCI specific grants, adoption loans, and employee benefits and more on our How to Fund Page!

AGENCY FEES

APPLICATION: $350 This non-refundable fee covers the cost of a review of your application to confirm your eligibility for your desired program. (Due at application)

U.S. AGENCY: $6,000 * The agency fee covers AGCI’s cost to facilitate your adoption with agency and government officials in both the United States and foreign country. Processing expenses for AGCI include, but are not limited to, personnel costs, administrative overhead, operational costs, staff training and education, state, federal, and international licensing and accreditations, communications and insurance. (1/2 Due with completion of orientation and 1/2 due with dossier submission)

PROGRAM FEE: $2,500* This fee provides care for orphans around the world and allows AGCI to provide the medical, emotional, spiritual, and developmental care that every child deserves. (Due with completion of orientation)

POST-ADOPTION SERVICE: $1,750This fee allows us to provide post-adoption support services to your family and process post-adoption reports. (Due with completion of referral packet)

*If adopting siblings, agency and 1st program fees increase.

HOME STUDY AND POST-ADOPTION*

AGCI HOME STUDY SERVICES: $2,500 These fees cover our services in preparing and completing your adoption home study, including any applicable social worker travel costs. If outside AGCI’s home study states; these fees may be payable to your home study agency. (Due with completion of orientation)

POST-ADOPTION SERVICES: $400 per report; $225 per report for each additional child. These fees cover the cost for AGCI to provide post-placement visits and reports upon arrival home. (Due with completion of referral packet)

*These fees may vary if payable to your home study agency for families living outside of AGCI’s licensed states.

NON-AGCI HOME STUDY REVIEW: $350 Any home study written by your home study agency (if outside our 6 home study states) will be reviewed by AGCI to ensure it meets all AGCI, USCIS, Hague and sending country criteria. (Due with completion of orientation)

SOUTH AFRICA COUNTRY FEES & EXPENSES

$7,100* These fees cover the cost of facilitating an international adoption in South Africa. These fees include, but are not limited to costs related to personnel, administration, training and education, legal fees and communications associated with government and agency authorities, government fees, and care of your child prior to the completion of your adoption (Due with completion of dossier and referral packet as indicated on fee schedule).

ADDITIONAL & THIRD PARTY EXPENSES

Adoptive Parent Referral Education:

$300

Adoptive Parent Home Study Education:

$600

IAAME Accreditation Monitoring & Oversight:

$500

FBI Fingerprinting:

$85 per adult

USCIS & Immigration Related Fees:

$775+

Notary Services, County & State Authentication:

$250+

Document Authentication and Translation Fees:

$400-$3,600

Re-Adoption:

$500-$1,500

Travel Expenses:

$3,000-$15,000

TOTAL COST: The approximate cost to adopt from South Africa is $27,655. Cost does not include airfare, lodging and other fees associated with travel.

Fee Disclosure: All fees paid to AGCI are paid in advance of service. AGCI fees are non-refundable and may not be waived. If services are terminated and a refund is due, all refunds will be processed within 60 days of withdrawal and/or closure of the adoption file upon receiving the Adoption Termination Contract.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:5-6

How To Adopt A Child from South Africa

STEP ONE

Complete home study and dossier process.

STEP TWO

Wait to be matched with your child and then begin the referral process.

STEP THREE

If you accept your referral, then you will wait for the Central Authority to issue the formal referral paperwork with all the child’s legal and medical history. Once you receive this information, you will then submit the I-800 paperwork to U.S. Immigration.

STEP FOUR

Once your family has received the approval from the Central Authority, you will be able to travel to South Africa to meet your child to begin bonding. A social worker in South Africa will assess the bonding between you and your child prior to beginning the court process to finalize your child’s adoption. You will attend a court hearing to finalize the adoption.

STEP FIVE

Once the adoption is finalized, one meeting will take place at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa, and your final visa appointment will be held at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa. Your family will then travel home with your adopted child. This trip will span 4-6 weeks.

STEP SIX

Welcome home! AGCI and South Africa require post-adoption visits and reports at 3, 6, and 12-month anniversaries from the U.S. Embassy appointment date and annually for 2-5 years after your child is home. In addition, once the adoption is finalized and your child is home, you are required to complete your state re-adoption process. AGCI is here for support throughout your child’s life—connect with us at anytime for ongoing support services!

South Africa Adoption Team

SOUTH AFRICA IN-COUNTRY TEAM

AGCI partners with the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society (JCW) in South Africa, which works directly under the authority of the Central Authority, Department of Social Development.

AGCI IS ALSO GIVING HOPE TO OLDER ORPHANS IN SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH LIFE-CHANGING INDEPENDENCE PROGRAMS!

PREPARE

Through vocational training or scholarship at the University of Johannesburg, older orphans can receive the training and support they need to follow their dreams and create independent, successful futures.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy.” – Proverbs 13